In a remarkable archaeological find that bridges nearly two millennia of British history, three exceptionally well-preserved Roman skeletons have been unearthed beneath the site of a former takeaway restaurant in Lincoln city centre. The discovery, made during preparations for a major student housing development, has offered fresh insight into the city’s ancient past and reinforced its reputation as a treasure trove of Roman and medieval heritage.
The skeletons were discovered at the former location of the Taste Of Marrakesh restaurant, where developers Jackson & Jackson plan to construct 400 student flats. Archaeologists from Network Archaeology, working alongside city archaeologist Alastair Macintosh, spent a month meticulously excavating the site. The Roman burials are believed to form part of the same extensive burial ground where 23 skeletons were previously uncovered during a 2015 dig.
All three newly discovered burials are thought to be male. One grave contained a distinctive votive pot, believed to date to the late fourth century, which would have held a drink intended to accompany the deceased into the afterlife — a common Roman funerary ritual. This artefact has provided crucial dating evidence for the burials.
“The pot would have been filled with a drink to take to the afterlife and that’s a ritual that was common in the Roman period,” explained Claire Lingard, a director of Network Archaeology. “Logic dictates they were buried in the same burial ground as the earlier finds of 23 skeletons.”
Beyond the Roman remains, the excavation yielded a rich array of medieval artefacts, including cellars, wells, and a particularly evocative find: a bone ice skate crafted from animal bone. “The medieval finds are really fascinating,” Lingard added. “I like the skate made from animal bone — you can imagine the owner skating on the Brayford.”
The discoveries highlight Lincoln’s layered history, where everyday modern development continues to reveal glimpses of the past. The careful recovery and documentation of these remains echo another headline-grabbing British archaeological success: the 2012 unearthing of King Richard III’s remains beneath a car park in Leicester. In that case, extensive scientific testing by the University of Leicester confirmed the identity of the king “beyond reasonable doubt,” bringing Shakespeare’s dramatised final moments — “a horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse” — vividly back into public consciousness.
Work is now underway to catalogue, analyse, and archive the Lincoln finds, ensuring they will contribute to our understanding of Roman burial practices and medieval daily life in the region for years to come.
This latest chapter in Lincoln’s archaeological story serves as a powerful reminder that even beneath the bustle of contemporary city life — takeaway restaurants, student accommodation, and all — lie the quiet echoes of empires past and the everyday lives of those who walked these streets centuries ago. As the new development rises, it will quite literally be built upon the foundations of history.